• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.1096-1099
• /
• 2009

This study investigated change in the chemical components and antioxidant activity of ramie (Boehmeria nivea) leaves (RL) for the development of functional foods. Proximate compositions of protein, crude ash, and crude fat were 24.49, 11.41, and 4.89%, respectively. Contents of minerals of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) were 1,874, 1,433, 362, and 16 mg/100 g, respectively. ${\alpha},\;{\beta}$, and ${\gamma}$-Tocopherol contents were 9.79, 0.18, and 1.44 mg/100 g, respectively. Linoleic and linolenic acid contents were higher than those of palmatic and stearic acid. Total phenolic and flavonoids contents showed the high level of 149 and 49 mg/g. The $IC_{50}$ values of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, and superoxide radical scavenging of RL extracts were 688, 424, and $596{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, while the radical scavenging values by butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) were 92, 58, and $98{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Thus, RL has the potential to be used as a healthy and functional food ingredient.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.853-860
• /
• 2010

We quantitated the major chemical components of ramie leaves (Boehmeria nivea L.) powder. The proximate compositions (all w/w) was 5.42% moisture, 28.15% crude protein, 6.95% crude fat, 15.27% crude ash, and 54.79% carbohydrate, respectively. The total, insoluble, and soluble dietary fiber contents were $39.66{\pm}1.84g/100g$, $20.32{\pm}2.02g/100g$, and $19.34{\pm}2.84g/100g$, respectively. The major free sugars were glucose, galactose and lactose. Seventeen amino acids were isolated. Essential amino acids constituted 44.65% of the total. When free amino acid levels were evaluated, 25 kinds of components were detected, of which 18.15% were essential. Only caproic acid methyl ester and pentadecanoic acid were detected when fatty acid examined. The contents of vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C were 0.0194 mg%, 0.0184 mg%, and 0.1833 mg%, respectively. The mineral contents of were in order of Cu